Hong Kong Builder
MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN CHINA
Young native architects, trained in Europe and the States, are establishing a genuine national modern movement in China, based upon their individual
conditions and needs
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IN presenting the following examples of modern architec- ture in China to western architects there should be said a word about working conditions in the Far East. China lacks reliable native building materials. forests supply the market with wood nor is any valuable natural stone found in this country, with the exception of granite and a poor quality of marble. Metals must be imported. Steel plants have not yet been erected. Building is, therefore, more or less restricted to what the country itself can produce: a well-burnt brick, and cement for concrete.
As far as other materials are concerned, there are two ways for the architect to choose: if special materials are required, these must obviously be imported, but this is often ruled out by the heavy import duties; the other way depends upon the architect's ability to make what use he can of the Chairman's skill in producing materials locally. Here the architect faces considerable difficulties. The Chinese handicraftsman, extremely skilled in his traditional work inherent in him for generations, is not very capable in adopting new ways and methods of work nor is he a good organiser of industrial enterprises. For instance, in appointing his staff, the building contractor, as with any- body else, has got to respect the private interests of his clan. His financial standing depends greatly on the Chinese credit system, which to a European seems a complicated and rather unsound affair. A "factory" given the order for making hardware may consist of a humble bamboo hut where about ten workers are handling the most primitive machinery one can imagine, and working from drawings that they do not understand properly.
These are but a few examples of the difficulties that the western architect and builder have to cope with. A permanent supervision is required to make the best of the job. In the cities, particularly Shanghai, there are so many various races, languages, and cultural and commercial interests located closely together, that one can hardly expect one uniform style in architecture. Some architects have tried to create a new Chinese style, adopting the famous Chinese tiled roof. Others
have transplanted English cottages, Spanish colonial houses, or even Gothic to this country-but what a mis- take! And now, modern architecture has conquered Chinese towns; especially in the work of a set of young Chinese qualified architects educated in Europe and the States, who have been very successful in designing modern buildings which are by no means copies of the West but genuine work fit for the purpose. Young European architects are also working in the same style. One of them, Mr. R. A. Hamburger, formerly with the Shanghai Municipal Council, has worked for over five years in Shanghai, and a selection of his designs are given in this article.
The Victoria Nurses' Home adjoins Shanghai's largest hospital on the Great Western Road.
It is a concrete-framed structure eight floors in height, with hollow walls, faced externally with dark red facing tiles and internally rendered with plain and ornamental plaster.
The ground floor is occupied by the kitchens, food preparation room, etc., in which are installed the most modern cooking appliances and food refrigeration plant. This floor also accommodates the boiler room, with oil- fired boilers and pumps, and at the east end are the Chinese staff quarters.
The lounge hall in Victoria Nurses' Home, Shanghai.
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